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> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Richie Dulin writes:
> > In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Allan Bedford writes:
> > > > In lugnet.market.theory, Richie Dulin writes:
> > > > to round out
> > > > my collection with a smattering of 'specialty bricks'.
> > >
> > > It seems like you were buying these for parts then...
> >
> > No, to quote myself from the posting you replied to:
> >
> > "Whatever parts it happens to contain then so be it. "
> >
> > I have never and would never buy a set only to get a part or parts.
>
> But, you said you bought them "to round out my collection with a smattering
> of 'specialty bricks'."
Yes. You are absolutely correct. These are the things I've said. The two
things are not mutually exclusive. I am not such a 'brick purest' that I
don't recognize the value of specialty pieces. However, as mentioned, I
don't buy a set because it does or does not contain a particular piece or
pieces. I really don't think this is such a stretch.
I wonder if any one else would like to openly discuss their buying habits,
only to have them semantically chopped to pieces. I'm not trying to say "my
way of buying LEGO is the best", but rather as always I am trying to
highlight an alternative point of view. To make some of the folks at LEGO
and some of the folks on LUGNET, realize that not every adult buys their
LEGO in the same way.
I am NOT an AFOL, I do not find many of the things that make AFOLS giddy to
be very interesting to me. I am adult who enjoys 'building' with LEGO.
> > If a
> > good set has interesting parts (and hopefully still a hefty dose of basic
> > bricks) then I buy it.
>
> But you said you buy sets for good designs. And you just said "I have never
> and would never buy a set only to get a part or parts.".
O.K. I guess you caught me on this one. I guess what I should have said was:
If a set is good AND it interests me, then I buy it.
What I was trying to imply, as stated above, was that I don't get a set home
and chuck all the specialty pieces in the trash. Even my favorite sets of
the mid-70's used specialty pieces, they are a fact of life. Do they need
to be the majority of pieces? No, this is my point.
> How can you reconcile "I have never and would never buy a set only to get a
> part or parts. " and "If a good set has interesting parts (and hopefully
> still a hefty dose of basic bricks) then I buy it. ", other than Orwellian
> doublethink??
>
> > This is one of the reasons I'm a big supporter of
> > bulk and service pack sales.
>
> But haven't you said you don't use S@H?
You are correct. I don't currently use LEGO Shop at Home.
Why?
For the same reason, I suppose, that LEGO pulled out of Canada. Financial
reasons. I simply cannot financially justify buying anything through Shop
at Home, given current exchange rates and shipping costs.
However, I'm still a big supporter (in theory) of the service, especially
when it comes to bulk bricks. It's my hope that someday, if I make a big
enough nuisance of myself, then perhaps the service might be more readily
available up here. What frustrates me is that I currently live about 2
miles from where all the LEGO of my childhood originated. But today, when I
want LEGO I have to call down the U.S. Very sad for us Canadians, you must
realize this.
> [snip]
>
> > Take my recent fire truck model for example. Its internal frame and external
> > body are primarily BASIC bricks. However some of the accent pieces are
> > anything from Technic bricks, to Star Wars light grey slopes to transparent
> > 1x1 rounds for lights etc.
> >
> > http://www.apotome.com/lego/station71/engine71.htm
>
> Nice model.
Thank you.
> > The contrast to this style of building might be best shown in the Jack Stone
> > Police Headquarters. This set uses specialized pieces where basic bricks
> > would have done just as well. To my mind this is the cardinal sin of LEGO
> > building.
> >
> > http://guide.lugnet.com/set/4611
>
> How many pieces does your fire truck have?
I have no idea. :)
> A similar number to the Police
> Station?
Not in any way similar.
> Is it a valid comparison?
I wasn't comparing piece counts, I was comparing building styles. But since
you brought it up, and to be fair, let's compare it to something else.
Try this one:
http://guide.lugnet.com/set/370
Again, my point isn't all that complicated. I'm simply saying that given
the current state of financial affairs at LEGO, then perhaps they should try
sticking with traditional building techniques (DEFINITION: Using basic
bricks) rather then cranking out new molds at the drop of a hat.
> > There is no reason that those white columns could not have been done with
> > stacks of regular 2x2 bricks.
>
> They are easier for young kids (3+) to assemble. 2x2 bricks aren't textured
> and wouldn't look as good.
But... what exactly is this thing supposed to look like? The 1976 police
headquarters looks... like a building. The Jack Stone thingy looks like...
well, she don't look like a building to me.
> > Using specialty pieces just for the sake of creating expensive new molds
> > for parts just doesn't seem to make economic sense.
>
> Think of all that money wasted on Bionicle molds... Think of all the clever
> uses for those and other new parts in the future.
Thinking, thinking........ stack overload error. No useful data resulted.
> > > Hmmm...
> > >
> > > So to sum up: you want better designs and better brick selections, but when
> > > LEGO makes them available, they're too expensive for you?
> >
> > Richie... I don't know where you are, but I live in Canada. We used to have
> > a division of LEGO operating within our borders. I used to order from the
> > Shop At Home service and get service packs and Technic bulk bricks I needed.
> > Then they closed down LEGO Canada.
> >
> > If you take a look at the Shop At Home catalog that now arrives at my door
> > you'll notice that everything is in U.S. prices. So if you want to know how
> > much a set (or bulk pack) will cost me, then double the price. It's
> > actually more than that, but I'm trying to keep this simple.
> >
> > Then add in shipping (which is also quoted in U.S. dollars). To order any
> > significant quantity of bulk bricks would require me to secure a bank loan,
> > or miss a mortgage payment. I am simply advocating for more reasonable
> > pricing on bulk bricks OR (big OR) put more assorted tubs and buckets in
> > retail stores here in Canada where I can buy them readily.
>
> I'm in Australia. We have S@H now, although I thought we would never see it.
> We wanted it, and LEGO delivered it, and now I support S@H. Delivery is
> expensive, true. Selection isn't as wide as it might be, true. But I can
> live with that. Things are getting better, and I think they'll continure to
> get better.
And I support the way in which you support LEGO. For me, it's a decision of
a different flavor. I chose to NOT support the company financially, but
instead to work for hours each week online to try and raise issues that
others seem too shy to talk about. I'm not afraid of annoying someone at
LEGO for the simple reason that I am the customer.
> > I'm a LEGO builder Richie... not an AFOL, not a collector, not a reseller.
>
> Me too.
Then join the revolution my friend. Express alternative views. If you want
to buy sets, then buy them, but don't be afraid to keep telling them what
you want next. If it wasn't for people calling for bulk sales and reissues,
then how much of what's available to you today would be available?
> > My primary goal (with regards to dealing with the LEGO company) is to get
> > them to understand that for a certain segment of their market, these are
> > dark times.
>
> But they're not... there's great stuff available.
Again, everyone has a right to their opinion. I certainly respect yours.
> > Finding bricks that are readily available and moderately priced
> > (at least here in Canada) is a tough assignment.
>
> You didn't agree or disagree with my summation: you want better designs and
> better brick selections, but when LEGO makes them available, they're too
> expensive for you?
Sorry, didn't realize that I was under oath. ;)
I disagree with your summation. Because it's not complete.
I want better designs, better bricks selections AND better prices. Look at
Brad's most recent post to LUGNET. Looks like the bulk pricing is changing.
Maybe things are looking up.
> If that's the case, maybe the problem is more of a personal budget issue for
> you than it is a policy problem for LEGO.
Absolutely. I'm not Bill Gates. I'm an average guy, with an average job,
who drives a 10 year old car, has bills to pay and enjoys putting food on
the table. I shouldn't have to take out a bank loan to enjoy a hobby that's
supposed to be fun. :)
My dream is to walk into my local Zellers (or a Wal-Mart, I'm not fussy) and
see something akin to the 30th anniversary buckets on the shelves again.
Back then (only 3 years ago) I funneled a great deal of my disposable income
towards the LEGO company. But today I can't find anything fun or
interesting to buy. Is this MY fault? Am I really asking too much? In
fact, in this case I'm only asking for something that's already been done!
Not even something new. I'm just begging a company who has already produced
a product that I liked to make more. I'm not an idiot, they won't do this
just for me. But maybe there are more like me out there. Best be careful
y'all. ;)
Regards,
Allan B.
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: "MOC" Blacksmith Shop on lego.com
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| (...) it's not a valid comparison. [snip] (...) ...or others disagree about. (...) Except that you're not a customer of S@H. And not a major customer of the rest of LEGO either. [snip] (...) I'm not sure you do - you've invited me to "join the (...) (23 years ago, 18-Dec-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: "MOC" Blacksmith Shop on lego.com
|
| (...) Adult who enjoys 'building' with LEGO sounds like an AFOL to me. What do you think AFOL implies if it doesn't include this type of person? I think any adult who has at least one of the following characteristics is an AFOL: - enjoys building (...) (23 years ago, 18-Dec-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: "MOC" Blacksmith Shop on lego.com
|
| (...) But, you said you bought them "to round out my collection with a smattering of 'specialty bricks'." (...) But you said you buy sets for good designs. And you just said "I have never and would never buy a set only to get a part or parts.". How (...) (23 years ago, 17-Dec-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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